Fishbone Chart as Learning Tool

Sometimes you can learn and retain material just by putting it on paper in a very memorable way. This is the beauty of a fishbone chart.

This chart is actually one of many visual organization tools. To make a fishbone chart, you start with a triangle which you draw on the right side of your paper. Inside the triangle (the head of the fish) you put a topic—like a problem that you are pondering, analyzing, or trying to break down.

Next, draw a line off to the left (body) and several offshoots where you brainstorm and insert several subtopics, answers, or elements of your topic. Voilà! You have a fishbone chart.